Fabrication and properties of HfB2-MoSi2 composites produced by hot pressing and spark plasma sintering

HfB2-15 Vol% MoSi2 composites were produced from powder mixtures and densified through different techniques, namely hot pressing and spark plasma sintering. Dense materials were obtained at 1900 degrees C by hot pressing and at 1750 degrees C by spark plasma sintering. Microstructure and mechanical properties were compared. The most relevant result was for high-temperature strength: independent of the processing technique, the flexural strength in air at 1500 degrees C was higher than 500 MPa.